The Earl Beaconsfield, on North Denes Road, has been closed on and off for the last five weeks while former manager Jayne Davidson applied for a licence.

REGULARS at a Great Yarmouth pub can once again enjoy a pint in their local after its new landlady was granted a licence.

The Earl Beaconsfield, on North Denes Road, has been closed on and off for the last five weeks while former manager Jayne Davidson applied for a licence.

And last Thursday members of the borough council's licensing committee approved a licence, but capped the time that music could be played, following concerns about noise.

The pub has opened on the odd occasion under a temporary events licence in the last five weeks and dozens of people, including regulars, local businesses and holida makers, had written to the council in support of the application.

Jody Donaldson, manager of the nearby Eversley Nursing Home, wrote that the home did “not receive any disturbance at all” from the pub. And members of the newly-formed ex-servicemen's group Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH), which meets at the pub, said it would have to look “long and hard” to find a “more suitable” meeting place.

Jacqueline Ridpath, who runs a 14-room guest house on North Denes Road with her husband, objected to the application.

She said: “We've had many complaints from guests about noise from the pub.”

Mrs Ridpath said the noise happened mainly on Fridays and Saturdays and included disturbance from people going to and from the pub, music, karaoke, and taxis.

She said several refunds had been given to customers who had complained about the noise and unable to sleep.

She said: “You can hear the music and people shouting when the windows are open. The building is not suitable to contain the music. I have complained to the council and my next step is to install monitors to monitor the sound.”

County councillor for Magdalen division Colleen Walker spoke at the meeting on behalf of Mrs Davidson.

She said: “It was extremely difficult to understand the objections. My interpretation was that they felt there might be a problem if the licence was granted. One said the building is unsuitable but it has been the site of a pub for 800 years.”

Mrs Walker said the pub, which does not have double glazing, was used by a variety of people and that there would be noise from cars, taxis and passers-by because it is located in what is classed as a secondary holiday area.

Mrs Davidson was granted a licence to serve alcohol from midday until midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and midday until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. She had originally applied for music, including karaoke, to be played until midnight, but following the concerns raised by Mrs Ridpath it was decided music could only be played until 11pm.

The committee also put a condition on the licence for Mrs Davidson to close her doors and windows when loud music was being played to curb the sound of noise.